Arcana Rising (The Arcana Chronicles, #4) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jul 21, 2015 Camille Cheng marked it as to-read

I JUST DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN.

Initial reaction:

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Jul 22, 2016 Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: genre-young-adult, books-read-2016

4.5 Stars

ARCANA RISING picks up where DEAD OF WINTER left off and that is a world of heartbreak and despair. I will try to make this review completely spoiler free just in case you haven’t read the series yet, in which case you need to move your butt and get started. Now lets get into what I really liked about this book.

ARCANA RISING will make your heart race. It’s packed with enough action and desolate settings to keep you on the edge of your seat and lets not mistake this for just another 4.5 Stars

ARCANA RISING picks up where DEAD OF WINTER left off and that is a world of heartbreak and despair. I will try to make this review completely spoiler free just in case you haven’t read the series yet, in which case you need to move your butt and get started. Now lets get into what I really liked about this book.

ARCANA RISING will make your heart race. It’s packed with enough action and desolate settings to keep you on the edge of your seat and lets not mistake this for just another young adult story. This series is intense and ARCANA RISING is just upping the stakes in the game. I also found that the sense of instability and distrust that filled up the moments when the action would die down, carried the urgency for me to continue reading at break-neck speed.

And let’s be honest here. I’ve long been a Jack girl throughout this series, but in the last book my confusion began. DAY ZERO only pushed that along until I was completely lost in what outcome I wanted. ARCANA RISING shows no answers for me. I’m still torn. I understand Evie’s struggle because making a choice between two perfect men is not easy and I haven’t made mine. Death is EVERYTHING in this book. I anticipated every second we got to see him and I longed for him to feel happiness. And yet, there were still times that I would try and find the clue as to his betrayal. Because it must be coming, right?

I wish I could say I loved Evie throughout this book, however that’s not necessarily the case. After a while of seeing her wallow in her love for two people and her heartbreak at not knowing what happened to either of them, she was starting to get on my nerves a bit. I long for the day when she truly takes charge with a vengeance. But since I don’t want to give spoilers away I’m going to leave it at that.

While she wasn’t my favorite thing of this reading experience, the story absolutely was. It didn’t let up and things progressed nicely in the overall story arc. There is a sense of urgency throughout this book as the game escalates, alliances are forged and trusts are challenged. I honestly loved questioning everyone’s motives, I expect betrayal at every turn and I’ve become quite jaded. Just when I start to warm up to someone’s character, my instincts tell me not to trust them. And I think Ms. Cole is doing a good job creating that sense of distrust that is the only thing still making this game play out.

I know you probably want to know if Jack lives, and quite frankly I won’t give a damn thing away. You can read this book and suffer along with me. And when I say suffer, I mean Kresley Cole likes to torture us. I should forewarn you about the cliffhanger. The DAMN CLIFFHANGER! One of those wanting to throw the kindle across the room moments for sure. When I read that last bit and then …. the end…. I was more than a little upset. I’m not sure how I can possibly wait eight months! Eight.Full.Months to know what happens next. If you’re ready to be in the same state as I’m in now, then read on. I don’t think you’ll find a more exciting series.

Favorite Quotes:

This might be the most noble thing I’ve ever done. Noble, for the record, cuts like a blade to the heart.

“I am a planet off its axis.”

Voice rough with lust, he said, “I have one treasure.” He slowed, pinning my gaze with his starry one. “And she owns my soul.” ...more

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Jun 06, 2019 Usagi77777772003 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-that-tug-at-your-heartstrings, really-addictive, amazing-world-building, heroine-sleeps-with-another, love-triangle, post-apocalyptic

This review is for books 1-4.

Wow, this series is, by far, my favorite one by Kresley Cole.

Before this, the only other book I really loved by her was "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night." Somehow, the lead's chemistry and their romance in that book captured my heart and made it bleed .

But overall, her IAD series have a cheesy factor that just didn't appeal to me. The whole "you're mine because you're my predestined mate" thing kind of turned me off. Plus, something about the worldbuilding and term This review is for books 1-4.

Wow, this series is, by far, my favorite one by Kresley Cole.

Before this, the only other book I really loved by her was "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night." Somehow, the lead's chemistry and their romance in that book captured my heart and made it bleed .

But overall, her IAD series have a cheesy factor that just didn't appeal to me. The whole "you're mine because you're my predestined mate" thing kind of turned me off. Plus, something about the worldbuilding and terminology just didn't mesh with me and I never warmed up to it.

The opposite, however, is true about her Arcana series. I was instantly hooked and the writing/world-building completely turned me into an addict. The prose was smooth and her characters all felt distinctive/real that it was like I was right there with them. I almost couldn't believe Kresley Cole wrote this as it feels completely different from her long-running IAD series.

The world-building and ideas (so creative to have characters with superpowers that's linked to taro cards) are incredible and I'm invested in all three of her main characters: Evie, Jack, and Aric. They're all well-fleshed out characters who are instrumental to the overarching plot. Not only that, but their chemistry with each other is simply scorching and gave me major feels. Seriously, I don't blame Evie for being caught between Jack and Aric because many circumstances and events kind of force her hand. With all that's happened to her, it's like the gods like to play one cruel joke after another on her. Evie is a flesh and blood character, one that I can relate with, so I can never hate her. I just want to hug her and wish for her to catch a break.

Jack and Aric are both compelling, well-developed characters and I love them both. I just prefer Aric, because he's more my type. Plus, his whole backstory is so heartbreaking and his yearning for the heroine squeezes my heart. As for Jack, I'm not as into the Cajun accent as many others are, but can't deny that he's an amazing character who also has hot chemistry with Evie. The love triangle is very well done and I'm fully invested. Honestly, even though I prefer Aric, I care about Jack too and my heart will also break if he doesn't get with Evie. Lol, I'm as conflicted as she is...I can't see either of them with anyone but her. Maybe Kresley Cole can give us a twist where both guys merge into one super Arcana card, lol.

My only gripe is that I prefer romances where the hero's obsessed and can never let the heroine go, but Jack has tried to be "noble" twice and it annoys me. He can't live without her, but lets her go twice for her "own good." I just hate that trope and would like him to get over that annoying inferiority complex of his (it's unattractive). Even though it's understandable that he feels that way due to his background, but I just hate that trait in a hero. It's a personal preference of mine for a romance hero to go after the heroine no matter what.

But regardless, this series took me by storm and Kresley Cole showed me she can integrate fantasy and romance seamlessly. I love all her main and supporting characters (Lark, Selena, Finn, Matthew, Tess, Sol, etc.) because she wrote them in a way that made them feel like real people. I also love her smooth writing style and prefer this world to her IAD one. It's really hard for me to become completely invested and engrossed in a book these days because I'm so picky. Most books just can't get me to feel any emotions and I'm more of an onlooker trying to fit into the book world. But with the Arcana chronicles, I was effortlessly sucked into its world and instantly connected with all the characters. I'm so emotionally invested that this series has the power to shatter my heart...kudos to Kresley Cole for creating a story, world, and characters with this much hold over me!!! ...more

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